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I really like the idea of that. There is no reason (that I am aware of) a blessing to start a school year or for comfort needs the priesthood. I stumbled on this a couple of months back, when I read somewhere that Emma Smith was given the priesthood in conjunction with her becoming part of the Quorum of the Anointed. I can’t remember where I read it, but only that the site was a little suspect. So I did what any good questioning LDS person does. Ask FAIR. Anyway, I got this email back: Quote:Issues of the temple are quite clearly problematic to discuss, and as a policy FAIR is very careful to not use the language of the temple nor discuss directly the temple ceremony as they are sacred, and we have made covenants to not discuss them. As such, we can only tangentially address your question from an historic perspective.
The “Quorum of the Anointed” is a term used to identify those married couples who received, during the life of Joseph Smith, an ordinance associated with having one’s calling and election “made sure” (being assured of receiving your exaltation) known as the “Second Anointing”. It is alluded to in the endowment ceremony most members are familiar with…
It went on to talk about how this addressed my questions about the priesthood. This was the first that I had heard about a second anointing, although I grew up hearing that we can have our calling and election made sure. I had never given any thought to this concept though.
One of the problems with having secrets like this that we can’t talk about is that it just makes people want to know more. It kind of bothered me that FAIR’s response to my question was basically “Yes, but it is a secret.” So I did what any “bad” LDS person does, search the internet, where I stumbled on this story of the SP.
While I agree that this is fringe stuff and really doesn’t matter to me and my life, having these kinds of secrets in the church is a dangerous practice. If we want people to chase the white rabbit down the hole then having secret ceremonies that the majority of endowed aren’t allowed to know is a good start. The more someone has to look outside of the church for answers to church questions, the less they will trust the church.
I was just thinking a bit more about my comment of how God will heal brain cancer in one peson and let another, arguably more deserving, person die. Johnh mentioned that God lets bad things happen to good people because people have their agency. I get that. In fact to take it further, I don”t believe that God gives us trials or punishments, I believe he lets them happen to us. It is along these lines that things get complex for me. I am not sure that he will intervene and rescue us from our trials. If that were the case there would be clear cut favouritism that doesn’t add up.
I recently listened to this great podcast talking about
good things happening to bad peopleComparing lines of authority kind of reminds me of a really old church video I saw as kid. Basically this old lady invites all these kids over for some fresh baked cookies. While they are all busy eating the cookies she tells them how her grandfather shook the hand of Joseph Smith. As her grandfather passed this handshake on down to her, she wanted to shake each of the kids hands. She ends her bit by saying “Now you have shaken the hand of someone who has shaken the hand of someone who has shaken the hand of the prophet Joseph Smith. This story, kind of like comparing lines just seems a like an exercise that gives the Lords servants celebrity status, and somehow we are better off the closer we are to a big name.
Hey, I am new to this forum too (I will do a formal introduction soon). I have been following the forum for some time now but wanted to weigh in here. Everyone has differing views on various aspects of the gospel and I find it really helpful to read these views. Faith is a complex thing and this topic of masturbation (or question #5) proves that. I think people here sincerely want to help. While you may not 100% agree with them, maybe you can find solace with some of their words and experiences.
I know the guilt that was associated with youthful masturbation. My leaders had drilled it into my head that this would cause impotency if I was lucky or homosexuality if I wasn’t. I was sure that I was on the road to hell and that first time I talked to my bishop as a 15 year old I was expecting excommunication (how is that for naive). Upon reflection, I directly associate this guilt to some poor decisions after high school that ended up with the abuse of lots of drugs and alcohol, which didn’t seem so bad since I had already sold my soul.
Fast forward a couple of years and I had repented. I was on a mission and this monster reared it’s head again. At this time, i was sure that since I was an endowed member and living the higher law of a missionary I was sure to be sent home. After lots of guilt, mental anguish and personal suffering I fessed up to my mission president and expected the worst. His reaction reflects what I think most people here want you to understand. He simply asked if I would try to get it under control. I said yes, and then he said great. I wasn’t released as a district leader and wasn’t put on any kind of repentance path. It was done. Next time I needed to repent his reaction was the same.
In the 15 years since my mission I have done lots of thinking about my president’s reaction vs my inner reaction. I have talked to other people about their experiences (guys and girls). My consensus is that most people have indulged at one point or another, the ones who never have are a rare breed.
I have seen the wording softened and changed in the Strength of Youth and church handbook. The word masturbation has been removed from these documents. I think this has to mean something, but the meaning I find in it is my own interpretation. I hope that as you deal with this, based on your understanding and beliefs, that you will not be too hard on yourself. Repent, if you feel it is necessary. Do what it takes to feel clean and good. Don’t let this drag you down.
